Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
March 1, 2015

A mid-morning fire at Crumpton Street in the city has destroyed two businesses.
Initial reports were the fire had gutted W. Roach, which sells commercial business machines and office supplies, as well as an adjacent home.
However, Acting Fire Chief Errol Maynard later confirmed that the second second structure, which was earlier thought to be a residential property, was actually another commercial operation — Carmichael Workshop, which sells and repairs vehicle rims.
In all, 18 fire officers, three tenders, one water tanker and one combined ladder platform were put into action following the 11 a.m. blaze, which was brought under control just after 1p.m.
The owner of W. Roach was off island and his wife was too distraught to speak to reporters at the scene. However, two employees of the company, which has been operating at Crumpton Street for over 30 years, told Barbados TODAY that they were devastated and saddened that their workplace had been destroyed.
“I feel bad to know that I do not have work to come to tomorrow, and that all my hard work and clients work just gone up in flames,” one of the employees said.
Up to press time, the cause of the fire was still unknown. However, police superintendent Bruce Rowe said investigations were continuing into the fire, which temporarily interrupted proceedings on the final day of the annual Agrofest showcase in Queens Park, which is located directly opposite to where the fire occurred.
Some patrons and vendors were forced to move their vehicles, which were parked outside the burning buildings. Many Agrofest patrons were also among the large crowd, which gathered to get a glimpse of the fire.